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Who do you think made one of the best speeches in history ? Something that changed the world possibly? Brought people together to over come a challenge?
Maybe just a speech you like.?
I really like this speech by Ronald Regan regarding Patriotism and love of country. He really nails it on the head on how America lost its values and how we should teach our children american values.
For some reason I can't find a Youtube clip, but the Gettysburg Address by that Lincoln fellow is pretty hard to beat.
Well, actually, there is a good clip of Charles Laughton reciting it. I've never gotten through it without tearing up. Churchill puts up some stiff competition, but this is arguably the greatest speech in American history.
For some reason I can't find a Youtube clip, but the Gettysburg Address by that Lincoln fellow is pretty hard to beat.
Well, actually, there is a good clip of Charles Laughton reciting it. I've never gotten through it without tearing up. Churchill puts up some stiff competition, but this is arguably the greatest speech in American history.
I would have loved to have heard this one in my own tongue.
On September 8, 1883, Sitting Bull was invited to make a speech at a gathering in honor of the completion of the Northern Pacific Railway. They all clapped and cheered and gave him a standing ovation, all but the translator of course.
I've always quite liked Elizabeth I speech at Tilbury when the Spanish Armada was sent to invade:-
We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit our selves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I assure you I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear, I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects; and therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain,or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm; to which rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field. I know already, for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns; and We do assure you in the word of a prince, they shall be dulypaid you. In the mean time, my lieutenant general shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject; not doubting but by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over those enemies of my God,of my kingdom, and of my people.
I've always quite liked Elizabeth I speech at Tilbury when the Spanish Armada was sent to invade:-
We have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit our selves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I assure you I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear, I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects; and therefore I am come amongst you, as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain,or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm; to which rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field. I know already, for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns; and We do assure you in the word of a prince, they shall be dulypaid you. In the mean time, my lieutenant general shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject; not doubting but by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over those enemies of my God,of my kingdom, and of my people.
Thanks for posting that, Easthome. I had never read it. It points out how articulate and highly literate British leaders and politicians tend to be.
Yes, Churchill is hard to beat. Although he is best known for rallying his nation during the darkest time of World War II, that is, before the United States entry into the war, I also love his post-war speech at Fulton, Missouri, in which he said something like "An iron curtain has descended from the Baltic to the Adriatic". (That is from memory, so I'm sure someone will correct as needed). It is my understanding that that speech was the origin of the term "iron curtain".
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